Hogan joins Glamorgan’s growing Aussie influence

Glamorgan coach Matthew Mott believes the club have pulled off something of a coup by signing Western Australia pace bowler and British passport holder Michael Hogan on a three-year contract.

The 30-year-old Hogan will join the Welsh county in July and will join Marcus North for the second half of the season. Hogan has come late to first-class cricket and did not make Western Australia debut until 2009.

But Mott, also an Australian, reckons he will be a useful asset to Glamorgan’s seam attack especially after losing both David Harrison and Adam Shantry to enforced retirement last season.

Along with North and all-rounder Moises Henriques, who has signed for the early part of the season, Hogan is the third Australian that Glamorgan have recruited.

“He {Hogan] is probably not a household name in Wales yet but he comes highly recommended particular from his [Western Australia] captain Marcus North,” said Mott.

“Michael is highly rated in Australian cricket. Just recently he was polled amongst the Australian players as one of the best bowlers in the country.

“He’s at a great age for us to get him and I think he’s got five or six good years of county cricket in him and I think it’s a great boost for the club.”

Glamorgan are set to use Hogan primarily in the County Championship rather than in the one-day competitions, which will work well with former England bowler Simon Jones who will figure almost entirely in limited-overs cricket.

“We’ve spoken at length about our need to rotate our bowlers and take the pressure of the likes of James Harris in our attack and give them some rest time,” revealed Mott.

“He’s coming for the second half of the year so the bowlers will certainly get enough opportunities to bowl plenty of overs before he comes.”

Hogan, meanwhile, said he has always had an ambition to play in the UK. “I am thrilled to be joining Glamorgan,” he said. “I have always been keen to play cricket in the UK and am pleased to have joined such an ambitious and passionate county.

“The club is working hard to achieve success on the playing field and I am delighted to be able to be part of their future plans.”